Is Michael Owen right to say Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil is no match for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho?

Philippe Coutinho was very impressive against Arsenal on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)

BT Sport commentator Michael Owen has angered Arsenal supporters once again with his comments of Mesut Ozil.

It’s fair to say that the former England striker has rubbed Arsenal supporters up the wrong way all season. First he predicted the Gunners will finish fifth in the Premier League before claiming their mega-money signing Ozil is not world class.

And Owen was quick to pounce on Ozil’s performance against Liverpool on Saturday when he tweeted: ‘Wiltshire and The Ox played well today but Ozil, despite his quality, plays well far too infrequently and rarely against the big teams’.

But while Arsenal supporters appreciated that Ozil didn’t have his best of games, they were clearly angered with the former Liverpool striker’s commentary throughout the match.

Owen claimed that Reds playmaker Coutinho is more ‘influential when it counts’ and hinted the youngster was a ‘better player in the big games’.

Now, the statistics across the season as a whole would suggest that Coutinho has a bit to go to justify the claim that he is the better player.

Ozil is leading in all the key areas and the German has scored more goals this season, has more assists and created more chances that the Brazillian.

Michael Owen probably didn’t look at the stats before he made his comments regarding the two players but his point is that it is not what you do but when you do it that counts.

But while ‘who does more when it really counts’ is open for debate, there can be no doubt which player was better value for money.

Everyone knows Arsenal paid Real Madrid £42.5 million for Ozil but it is important to remember Liverpool paid just £8.5 million for Coutinho.

For value for money Liverpool are getting the best deal. Coutinho is providing much of the ammunition for Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez while Ozil’s form has undoubtedly tailed off after an impressive start to his Arsenal career.

Owen’s comments were fuelled by what he witnessed on Saturday when Coutinho’s performance was far superior to Ozil.

There is still plenty of time left this season for one of the two players to prove who is really superior, but all I can say is I know who I’d rather have in my team this weekend.